Marengo considers allowing local marijuana grower to infuse, transport

Marijuana products will not be sold for public consumption at the location

A marijuana grower in Marengo could be add new aspects to its business, including infusion and transportation services, if the Marengo City Council gives its approval Monday evening.

Wicked Wellness, an online business that sells marijuana-based products, is seeking additional approval to operate the infuser and transportation licenses in Marengo from the City Council. The business is in conversations to buy land at 21906 W. Grant Highway in Marengo for its business operations, City Administrator Josh Blakemore said.

Wicked Wellness received transportation and infuser licenses from the state earlier this year. The company also is hoping to receive a growing license from the state by the end of the year, according to a letter submitted to the city by an architecture firm working on behalf of the company.

The transportation and infuser business will be run out of the property’s main building and growing operations would take place in a warehouse in the rear of the property, according to the letter.

The building the company currently is working to buy is vacant and owned by Marengo Center GP, according to city documents.

“The company will focus on making THC infused chocolates, gummies, and cartridges to start. They may add a cold brew coffee line and some savory items in the future,” according to the letter.

Wicked Wellness is a business-to-business operation, which means it sells its products to other marijuana businesses for public sale, and so the future Marengo location would not be open to the public, according to the letter.

Wicked Wellness’ parent company, DABPAK, is the marijuana business that worked to obtain licenses in Illinois and Michigan, according to information shared with the city.

If sale of the property goes through to Wicked Wellness, additional construction, such as fire suppression systems and requirements specific to marijuana businesses, would be needed for the business to meet city building codes, according to city records.

The company’s timeline submitted to the city shows it hopes to close the sale on the property by mid-December and begin selling its products in March.

Wicked Wellness also is registered at two other locations in McHenry County. The company lists an office address with the Illinois Secretary of State in McHenry, and a business manager owns property on Route 120 outside Woodstock, according to state and county records.

The company was one of five with ties to McHenry County to receive licenses for marijuana businesses in August.

Illinois Collective received approval from Cary officials in the summer to operate a growing business in the village. Green Renaissance Illinois also received an infuser license and lists Robert Gloppe of Richmond as a manager, according to Secretary of State records. Drecisco Farms, a Skokie-based business, received a license to be a grower and infuser and involves Anthony Michelotti of McHenry, according to Secretary of State records.

Vise Partners, owned by Jeff Gasner of Huntley, was the only company with ties to the county to receive a dispensary license where the public could buy products. Huntley currently does not allow recreational marijuana sales in the village.

McHenry County currently has one dispensary in Lake in the Hills, but Crystal Lake officials approved a plan Tuesday for AmeriCanna Dream to open the county’s second dispensary.